The 5 most-read biomedical stories of 2021

In the two years since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, our understanding of how the virus spreads – and how to contain it – has changed considerably. Engineering has been central to government guidance, with experts in Sage advising parliament and helping form preventative measures.

Thankfully, researchers in biomedical engineering have not stopped innovating during the pandemic, as revealed by Professional Engineering’s five most-read stories this year. Click on the links throughout to read the whole articles.   

How Dyson engineers designed a ventilator under intense pressure 

It is hard to think of a more pressurised situation in which to complete a critical engineering project than the early months of the Covid-19 pandemic. At Dyson, however, Vicky Gibson-Robinson and colleagues focused on the task at hand, going from a pizza box-prototype to a ventilator production line in a month, as she told Alex Eliseev in the most-read story of the year. 

Inflatable spine implants could treat severe pain 

An ultra-thin inflatable spine implant could treat severe pain without the need for invasive surgery, according to its developers at the University of Cambridge. The new device is as thin as a human hair, so it can be rolled into a cylinder, inserted into a needle, and implanted into the epidural space of the spinal column. The device is inflated with water or air and unrolls like a tiny air mattress to cover a section of the spinal cord, where it can send small electrical currents to disrupt pain signals. 

Barnacle-inspired glue repels blood and seals wounds within seconds 

Inspired by the sticky substance that barnacles use to cling to rocks, MIT engineers designed a strong, biocompatible glue that can seal injured tissues and stop bleeding. The new paste can adhere to surfaces even when they are covered with blood, and can form a tight seal within about 15 seconds. Such a glue could offer a much more effective way to treat traumatic injuries and to help control bleeding during surgery.  

3D-printed ‘chain mail’ fabric can stiffen on demand 

A lightweight and flexible 3D-printed fabric made of nylon plastic polymers can stiffen ‘on demand’, according to its creators at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore and the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). The development could pave the way for next-generation smart fabrics that harden to protect a user against impacts, or when additional load-bearing capacity is needed.  

'Wearable microgrid' harnesses energy from sweat and movement 

What if your body could charge your phone and power biomedical sensors? It could be possible in future, thanks to projects like the ‘wearable microgrid’ from the University of California San Diego. The mock turtleneck features sweat-powered biofuel cells, motion-powered triboelectric generators, and energy-storing supercapacitors. 

Tomorrow: the five most-read rail stories of 2021. 

Want the best engineering stories delivered straight to your inbox? The Professional Engineering newsletter gives you vital updates on the most cutting-edge engineering and exciting new job opportunities. To sign up, click here.

Content published by Professional Engineering does not necessarily represent the views of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.